Microsoft,
on the other hand, is on much more tenuous footing, with its own
mobile market share in
shambles and its hopes solely pinned on this month's launch
of Windows Phone 7 (next month for U.S. customers). That
didn't stop its CEO Steve Ballmer from ripping into his Cupertino
rival in a recent
question and answer session with Ina Fried, writer
of CNET's "Beyond
Binary" column.

Mr. Ballmer replies,
"I think you clearly have a lot more variety than Apple has.
There's really only one choice in the Apple world. I think the
problem, if you don't have a minimum kind of standard […] the brand
means nothing to the user. Our brand means something to the user. It
means something to the developer. It implies a certain level of
consistency and high quality, which I think is important for the
Windows Phone."

Mr. Ballmer, who has in the past
derisively compared
Macs to Mac Trucks and said that Apple users pay
$500 extra for a logo, did begrudgingly admit that his fruity foe
is doing exceptionally well in the tablet sector. He comments,
"You certainly see more. You certainly see more than I would
like. One is more than I would like."

Despite recent
studies that show the iPad to be cannibalizing users' PC
time, Mr. Ballmer is confident that the tablet will not replace the
PC. He states, "Certainly someone who wants to sit and do
an interview and take notes and scroll around, they are unlikely to
find that device very comfortable. It doesn't stand up on its own. It
doesn't have a big screen and keyboard. I'm not taking anything away
from what Apple has done and certainly we have our work cut out for
us."

Mr. Ballmer refused to answer questions on how
Microsoft might match Apple's instant-on iPad capability and the
device's long battery life. He would only say that you would
see tablets "essentially
around the holiday", a little bit of an ambiguous statement,
to say the least. He was full of optimism and enthusiasm,
though, about Windows Phone 7.

After be docked
part of his bonus for the failure
of the Kin smartphone line, Mr. Ballmer is convinced the new OS
will be a hit with customers. He comments, "I think we're
moving fast. We've got to see how the market responds. I think we are
going to get great response to the new Windows Phones and that's the
key. If we get that done and we keep up the pace of good work that we
are doing, I feel pretty good."

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quote: It appears my medicine has worn off because I could sworn I just saw Microsoft defending choice in the market place :)

What on earth are you talking about, there are more phones on release than Android (and obviously Apple) had in its first year.

quote: I guess Apple must be getting to them.

You are just realizing this now? Where have you been?

quote: Ballmer's truculent dismissal of Apple must wearing thin even for the microsofties. If Windows Phone 7 is not a hit then Ballmer's days are surely numbered.

???? What are you talking about, all he stated is you have more choice with Windows Phone, which you do.. There is really no debating that both Android and Windows Phone will have more choices. He then goes on to praise (although reluctantly) the iPad.. So please enlighten us as to how he is dismissing anything?

quote: Its interesting how weak Ballmer is when probed about their response to the iPad - as far as I can see MS doesn't have one. Making an iPad competitor will probably be even more difficult than making an iPhone competitor because it will inevitably also compete against their core desktop Windows business.

It is interesting, but from what I get out of it, they will not be trying to compete directly with the iPad that is certainly well suited for certain purposes, but terrible for others.

Its quite obvious that MS does not have a direct iPad competitor on the table. Especially when you consider that the touch friendly version of Windows 7 is not slated until next year, after the initial release of Windows Tablets.

My guess is that they will be going after a completely different market to begin with. (i.e their core market, big business)

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